Combined photograph folder and easel



.1. J. FROELICH COMBINED PHOTOGRAPH FOLDER AND EASEL Filed Aug. 6, 1923IN V EN TOR.

Jibsep JffioeZzch,

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

rrso srArs JOSEPH J. FROELICH, OF DRAWN-A, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0TAPBETJ; LOOMIS t COMP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

oomsmnn rnoroenarn rornna AND nasnn Application filed au ust c, 1923.Serial no. 655,953.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. FRonLIoH, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Kaukauna, in the county of Outagamie and- Stateof Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Photograph Folder and Easel, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to combined folders and 'easels. One object ofthe invention is to provide a device,of this kind of relativelyinexpensive construction which can be quickly and positively convertedinto afolder for protecting a photograph and an Other objects willhereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of acombined folder and easel embodying my invention by way of example;

Fig. 2- is a perspective View of the rear of my device, folded as aneasel;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my device employed as a folder;

Fig. 4 is a perspective-view of device at the stage where is is beingconverted from a folder to an easelor vice versa; 4

Fig. 5 is a similar view 'of a modification. While I shalldescribe thepreferred form of my invention by way of example, it will be understoodthat the invention is not restricted to this form, except as indicatedin the appended claims, A strip of material 1,

such as tough cardboard of the-type com- I monly employed inphotographic folders, is

provided with a series of folds 2, 3 and 4, which divide it into foursections. The largest section 5 constitutes the panel upon which the.photograph is mounted. v The face of panel 5 which receives the pictureI shall designate as the front face. It will be noted thatI prefer tohave the folds 2,

3 and 4 substantially parallel. The folds 2 and 3 are especiallyflexible and permit the tongues '6 and 7 to be folded against either thefront or back of panel 5. 1

The 'flaps 6 and 7 when folded over upon the'front or picture-receivingface of panel 5 substantially cover it, as indicated inFig. 3. I find itconvenient to have flap 7-nearly as large as panel 5, fiap 6 beingrelatively smaller. Mean is preferably provided for holding the twoflaps together in the photograph-protecting position of Fig. 3. This mayconveniently take the form of tongue 61 at the outer edge of flap 6which can be detachably engaged in slot or cut 71 in flap 7. Tofacilitate the slipping of tongue 61 into cut 71 the latter may be Vshaped, as shown.

The fold 4 divides flap 7- into two portions, of which 72 serves as asupporting base when the device is used as an easel.

The remaining portion 73 of flap '7 serves as a supporting brace in theeasel arrangement. During the transformation from' a folder to an easelthe tongue 61 is disengaged from the cut 71, the parts being open asindicated in Fig. 4. Portion 72 of fla 7 is turned backwardly about fold3 until it forms an acute angle with panel 5, as in dicated in Fig. 2.Portion 73 of flap 7 is then turned upwardly so as to engage the rearface of panel 5. It is convenient to hold the outer ,or upper edge ofportion 73 in engagement with the rear face of panel 5 by slipping itunder tongues 51, preferably, but not necessarily, integral with therest of the panel.

The disposal of flap 6 during the transformation from a folder to aneasel can be effected in several difi'erentways. It can, of course, beallowed to hang freel about the fold 2 in back of inclined panel 5, butit is much neater and more preferable to fold it backwardly against therear face of panel 5, as shown in Fig. 2. The. tongue 61 may besuflic'iently long to pass behind the upper edge of section 73, in whichcase tongues 51 not only retain the upper edge of section 73 in positionbut indirectly hold tongue 61 and flap 6 in the best location. Incasethis retaining function puts too great a strain upon tongues 51 Iprovide an angular out 52 in the back of panel 5 into which the end oftongue 61 may engage. Of course, other suitable holding means thantongues and slots may be employed to hold the arts in their adjustedbeing correspondingly stifiened by an adframe 55, as indicated in Fig.5.

5'so as to facilitate the bending of the parts around the folds 3., and4. i v The photographs or pictures may be attached to panel 5 in anysuitable way. They asted or dry mounted on may be directly y othersuitable means to the panel.

- graphs may be used. Panel 5 may be stiffened by an adherentstifleningpiece 53 on which the picture 54 is located (see Fig. 4).

Likewise, the picture 54 may be located beneath a relatively stiff cut-out cardbo fi'ld e stiffening of. panel 5 'by any suitable means, suchas piece 53 or frame 55 is desirable because it tends to hold the anelin an unwarped or unbent condition, t us preserving the good appearanceof the easel assembly.

, Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A photographic .folder and easel comprising a panel having a frontphotograph receiving face andfiaps joined to opposite edges of saidpanel by connections bendable through more than 180, said flaps being of-a size to substantially cover said front face when folded thereover,and one of said flaps having-a transverse fold, the portion of said flapbetween said fold and said panel servv mg as a supporting base and therest of said flap servmg as a brace to support said panel when said flapis folded back and Mngaged with the rear face of the panel to 40 forma'triangular easel therewith, there bearts in the form -ing meanstoretain said of said easel, saidmeans said front face.

. 2. A photographic folder and easel comeing invisible at prising apanprlsing a panel having a .front customarily employed in mountingphotophotograph-receiving face and fla s swingingly connected to oposite para el edges of said panel, said fiaps being of a size tosubstantially cover said front face when folded thereover, said flapshaving interengaging means for retaining them in said covermg' position,one of said flaps havin 'flaps in position, said means bein foldablesubstantially flush with said rear ace of the panel.

3. A photographic folder and easel comprising a stri of material having,a panel with a front p otograph-receiving face, and 7 flaps swinginglyconnected to transverse parallel edges of said panel by folds in thestrip, said flaps being of a size to substantially cover said front facewhen folded thereover, one of said fla s having a fold parallel to saidedges of t e panel, the portion of said'flap between the fold and thepanel serving as an easel base and the rest of said flap servin as aneasel brace when said flap 1s folde back to form an easel with thepanel, the other fla being folded against the back of said pane when ineasel position, there being means on the rear face ofthe panel to retainthe end of said easel brace in osition, said end'of the easel bracea'srelative sliding movement ofthe parts.

. Signed at Kaukauna, Wisconsin this 19 day of J uly, 1923.

JOSEPH J FROELICH.

retaining y engaging, the end of the other flap, said means beingquickly detachable by

